The Bethlehem Planning Commission yesterday rejected a proposal to rezone the Pfeifle Field area at Broad Street and Stefko Boulevard, jeopardizing a shopping center plan there.

The commission's 4-0 vote, with one abstention, comes as a recommendation to City Council, which has sole authority to change zoning.

Developer Jerome Tieger, a principal of Center Square Associates of Wyndmoor, Montgomery County, has an agreement to buy the 10-acre property from car dealer Dick Milham for $2 million. The deal is contingent on Tieger securing a zoning change to allow the development.

About 20 area residents opposed the requested change from RM high-density residential to CS, the city's commercial-shopping district zone.

Residents recenly organized into a group they call the Bethlehem Greenspace Coalition to fight the Center Square plan and other attempts to turn open spaces into shopping malls and other uses.

The city planning staff recommended rejecting the rezoning request, primarily because of excessive development density, traffic congestion, aesthetic considerations, and, agreeing with the neighborhood group, the fact that open space would be eradicated.

The 10-acre property has never been a public park or recreational area, said Planning Director Samuel Guttman. But part of it has long been used as a baseball field, under lease to the city. Bethlehem Steel Corp. owned it prior to Milham, Guttman said.

Since the parcel is on a main artery into the city from the new Interstate 78 interchange in Hellertown, via the adjacent Minsi Trail Bridge, "it is important to develop this site in a way that will enhance this entrance from the south into the downtown area" and the historic preservation district, Guttman said.

Charles Lyman of the Bethlehem Historical District Association and Wayne Dubbs of the Moravian Congregation board also opposed the request.

Lyman said the center would adversely impact the historic district, and added that the stores would compete with downtown businesses.

Dubbs said the church owns surrounding property to the south and west, and that "we hope to use our land as an income-producing property." He said the shopping center would devalue the church land.

Dubbs said later that some type of residential development is contemplated by the church --not necessarily senior citizen housing -- but that no decision has been made.

Tieger agreed that his proposed development would provide competition for downtown businesses, but said "that's not a zoning issue."

He said he couldn't argue with people who want to preserve open space, but said his development would be very attractive, providing colonial building designs and proper landscaping.

Tieger's attorney, James Holzinger of Bethlehem, noted that nearly 500 residential units could be built on the property under the current RM zoning, the city's most dense residential district. He said the RM zone allows greater lot coverage than the CS zone his client seeks.

John Roach of the neighborhood group said residents are interested in possibly acquiring the land to preserve it.

Tina Cantelmi Bradford said the group has no funds now, and agreed that $2 million is a difficult goal. But she said the property would not be as valuable if it remains a residential zone, and with possible county, state and federal assistance added to private donations, acquisition is possible. She said it has been done in other areas.

One opponent said citizen responses to the recent surveys done for the new city master plan show widespread support for preserving green space and recreational land.

Guttman said Buckhorn Fish Hutton Katz, the New York consultant hired to do the master plan, reviewed Tieger's request and also recommended against it.

Ernest Hutton wrote that commercial use of the property would be justified, but that smaller, "neighborhood-scale" development would be preferable. He advised the city to create a zoning district for that kind of project, because none exists.

Commission member Fred Achey abstained from the vote because he is a member of the Moravian Congregation board.

The commission's vote is not binding on City Council, which will conduct a public hearing on the request at 7:30 p.m. May 1 in Town Hall. A vote on the issue will probably take place at the next council meeting, at the same time and place May 22.

The commission approved plans for Bethlehem Developer Harold K. Tish's proposed South Side MarketFair project, despite the traffic department's concern that a loading dock shown is too small. Tish said very few large-size trucks would be serving the market, where up to 80 small, independent vendors -- mostly farmers -- are expected to be selling their goods.

A bar-restaurant, a food court and a small supermarket area will require only limited large deliveries, he said. A multiple movie-theater complex is also planned.

City solicitor Constantine Vasiliadis said that the commission could act on Tish's plan, even though Tish does not own all of the property. Tish's investment group owns much of the land, but several adjacent lots needed for the project must be purchased from the city.

Guttman said the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, through which the city will sell the land, wants the plans approved prior to the sale. The commission granted unanimous preliminary approval, subject to Tish's group acquiring full ownership.

The city has not yet decided whether to build a parking deck near the site to serve Tish's development, as well as other area businesses and general parking needs.